Mandhana stars again as India women wallop SA to seal series

Kimberley, Feb 7 (PTI) Opener Smriti Mandhana slammed a
quickfire 135 as Indian women's cricket team produced yet
another clinical display to beat South Africa by 178 runs in
the second ODI and clinch the three-match series here today.

By virtue of this win, India have taken an unassailable
2-0 lead in the series, which is part of the ICC Women's
Championship.

Sent into bat, left-handed Mandhana started from where
she left in the first game and smashed 135 off just 129 balls
to form the base for India's 302 for three.

She hit 14 boundaries and a six en route to her century.
Incidentally, this is Mandhana's second ODI century
against South Africa.

Mandhana had earlier made a 98-ball 84 in India's 88-run
win over South Africa in the first ODI.

Opener Punam Raut (20) and skipper Mithali Raj (20) also
got starts but failed to prolong their stay at the crease.

All the South Africa bowlers looked helpless in front of
the Indian batswomen as they could just manage to take three
wickets with Sune Luus registering best figures of one for 31.

Just like the first ODI, Indian bowlers too were clinical
in their approach, bowling out South Africa for just 124 runs
in 30.5 overs to register yet another massive win.

Leg-spinner Poonam Yadav excelled with the ball for India
with figures of four for 24, while left-arm spinner Rajeshwari
Gayakwad (2/14) and offie Deepti Sharma (2/34) shared four
victims between them.

India's veteran pacer Jhulan Goswami also added another
feather to her illustrious cap today by becoming the first
female cricketer to take 200 ODI wickets.

The 35-year-old Goswami, playing her 166th ODI, achieved
the feat when she dismissed opener Laura Wolvaardt for her
200th scalp.

South Africa's struggle against the Indian attack can be
gauged from the fact that only two of their batswomen could
manage double digit scores.

Opener Lizelle Lee held the fort single-handedly from one
end with a 75-ball 73 but she did not get the desired support
from her teammates.

The only other South African batswoman to have reached
double digit score was Marizanne Kapp, who remained unbeaten
on 17.